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Who is Bruce Boynton? Bruce Boynton Bio/Wiki
In a landmark supreme court case, Boynton v. Virginia, Bruce Carver Boynton was an American civil rights activist who influenced the Freedom Riders movement and promoted the cause of racial equality. He was born on June 19, 1937, in Alabama, U.S.
He has died at the age of 83.
Age
He was 83 years old.
Career
In 1958, while seated in a white restaurant at a bus station in Richmond, Virginia, Boynton ordered a cheeseburger. After he refused to leave the restaurant and spent one night in custody, he was arrested for trespassing. At the time, he was a law student at Howard University and wanted to contest his court detention.
๐ over loss of civil rights hero Bruce Boynton. Honored to celebrate him in Selma 2 years ago w/@DamonTHewitt @RossDeuel @carenshort.
Many know of his remarkable mother Amelia Boynton, who brought MLK to Selma, but must read this amazing thread on extraordinary family history. https://t.co/DLKtXJFjVg pic.twitter.com/RYmqnRlpUr
โ Leslie Proll (@LeslieProll) November 24, 2020
At the courtroom, Martin A. Martin represented him. He lost his case but continued to appeal before his case eventually hit the U.S. The Court Supreme. Thurgood Marshall, who later became a Judge of the Supreme Court, argued his case, known as Boynton v. Virginia.
Letโs not allow tranquil platitudes to overshadow the true narrative that Bruce Boynton + the Freedom Riders were revolutionary.
These actions, much like BLM today, embraced ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ as a direct strategy for dismantling racism + securing civil rights. https://t.co/ZgDmx3BAJl pic.twitter.com/t4kW7kMDHJ
โ Karishma Mehta for Virginia House of Delegates (@karishma4va) November 25, 2020
Boynton’s conviction was reversed by the court saying that racial segregation in public transit was unconstitutional.
The acts of Boynton inspired the 1961 Freedom Rides, where demonstrators rode interstate buses through the Southern United States to demonstrate against segregated bus terminals.
It was an honor and privilege to present Mr. Boynton with a commendation from @GovernorKayIvey. We are forever thankful to Mr. Boynton for the paths in civil rights paved by his sacrifices and dedication. #FreedomRiders #BruceBoynton #CivilRights pic.twitter.com/LCaAEvVOdl
โ Alabama GOMA (@AlabamaGOMA) November 24, 2020
While the Freedom Riders were detained in a few southern states, including Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina, the behavior caused then-President John F. Kennedy to issue orders to enforce the federal anti-discrimination laws strictly.
Posted by Bruce Boynton onย Tuesday, 10 April 2018
Education
Boynton received a law degree from Howard University and practiced for much of his career as a civil rights attorney until he retired. He served as the first Black Special Prosecutor in Alabama.
Death Cause
Boynton died at the age of 83 on November 24, 2020, two weeks before his landmark case celebrated its 60th anniversary. Former Senator Henry Sanders of the State of Alabama confirmed his death.
RIP Bruce Boynton
His life Mattered pic.twitter.com/7v7OwwUkKHโ Dan Traveling (@DanTraveling) November 25, 2020
Bruce Carver Boynton, a civil rights pioneer from Alabama who inspired the landmark โFreedom Ridesโ of 1961, died Monday. He was 83. pic.twitter.com/durbT8ruhm
โ Julian Khan (@juliankhan) November 25, 2020